Sign up for the Today newsletter
Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered right to your inbox every morning.
Alex Cora changes his tune about Rafael Devers potentially moving to first
"I'm not saying we'll never have that conversation, but I think for now, where we’re at, I like Raffy as a DH."
A day after doubling down on not entertaining a switch to first base for Rafael Devers, Red Sox manager Alex Cora left the door open for eventually pushing the DH back to the infield if needed.
The Red Sox now have a glaring vacancy at first base for the remainder of the 2025 season after Triston Casas suffered a knee injury Friday that will sideline him for the remainder of the summer.
With both Romy Gonzalez and Abraham Toro currently on Boston’s roster, Cora has repeatedly shut down questions about moving Devers, a former third baseman, to first.
Advertisement:
“From my end right now? No,” Cora told reporters Saturday of Devers moving to first. “We asked him [to become the DH] in spring training. In the beginning, he didn’t agree with it and now he’s very comfortable doing what he’s doing.”
But speaking on “WEEI Afternoons” Wednesday, Cora indicated that the Red Sox could eventually broach the subject to Devers, especially if it allows Boston to slot another impact bat into the lineup at the DH position.
More sports stories
“Right now with him, he’s very comfortable with his role, right?” Cora said. “And we asked him to do something in spring training that as you guys know, he didn’t agree [with] in the beginning. And then little by little, he has embraced it because he knows the quality of the player that we have at third base [and] where we’re at as a team.
Advertisement:
“I always say that time is our best friend in situations like this. And you know, there’s two reasons. Like, Triston got hurt Saturday, and we got some capable players. Romy is having a good season. Toro, you saw him yesterday — he put some good at bats. So I’m not saying we’ll never have that conversation, but I think for now, where we’re at, I like Raffy as a DH. I like him as I make my DH. You take away the first weekend of the season, he’s been one of the best hitters in the big leagues, and he’s doing an outstanding job.”
While Devers has seemingly settled into his new role as the team’s designated hitter, the Red Sox could bolster their batting order if they account for Casas’ absence with another poised hitter at first in Devers.
If Devers moves off DH, the Red Sox could add someone like Masataka Yoshida to the lineup, or even call up one of their blue-chip prospects in Roman Anthony or Marceo Mayer. While an ideal scenario has Anthony and Mayer starting their big-league careers in the outfield and infield, respectively, the Red Sox could use the spark that they would generate at the plate.
Advertisement:
Cora might have altered his stance on Devers, but he added that the Red Sox won’t entertain that contingency plan immediately.
“You know, we can say, ‘OK, Raffy is going to play first.’ It’s not going to happen tomorrow,” Cora said. “It’s not going to happen in five days, you know? So there’s a process, and it’s a long process, too.
“But like I said — for the player, to be fair with him, I think we’re in a good spot with him where he’s at mentally and with this process, and getting used to what he’s doing. And in my opinion, to throw something at him right now, it [would] be very unfair.”
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com